When I have less to think about than usual I have entertained myself by making a list of names that I think would look good on a business card. The only rule I give myself is that the names have to be real people, not made-up names like Sandy Beach or Blue Skye. Here is one of my current top ten.

Chaka Khan
Eudora Welty
Blaise Pascal
Bella Lugosi
Ayn Rand
Zelda Fitzgerald
Isadora Duncan
Maya Angelou
Salvador Dali
Coco Chanel

My choices are all a little off-beat. But I think each looks striking in print and pleasantly rolls off of the tongue when said out loud. In my opinion, there are some names — for instance, Newt Gingrich, Zazu Pitts, Ray Kroc, Clyde Barrow or Wallace Beery that have no business on a business card.

Which is likely to be the reason texting and tweeting has gathered such steam.